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Since 2018, I’ve been a full-time red light therapy addict to brighten and tighten my skin without needles. And after talking to a dermatologist recently, I learned that the viral TikTok treatment can also help with hair growth.
Research shows that certain wavelengths of light can actually stimulate hair growth, whether your hair loss is caused by female-pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia), hormones, stress, vitamin deficiencies, or an autoimmune condition like alopecia areata. “It can also help reduce traction alopecia, which is caused by tight hairstyles that pull on the hair, like ponytails and braids,” says board-certified dermatologist Candice Spann, MD.
After speaking with several dermatologists about red light therapy for hair growth, I decided to try out the at-home devices myself to see which ones were worth our hard-earned dollars. What follows are some pro tips on how to choose these devices, their recommendations (along with my feedback from testing them), and a helpful FAQ to help you answer your most important questions.
Now that you have a better understanding of how red light therapy can promote hair growth, here are some factors to consider when shopping for a new beauty device.
Robert Finney, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Soho Skin & Hair Restoration, says the wavelength used is the most important factor to consider when purchasing a red light therapy device for hair growth, and he recommends devices in the 620 to 678 nanometer (nm) range, as this range has been shown to be most effective in treating hair loss.
So what does this mean for you? If you’re using a device that emits wavelengths between 600 and 700 nm or 830 nm and above, you’ll be fine, as these wavelengths are backed by research. For added peace of mind, you can also look for brands that have conducted clinical studies to prove the effectiveness of their products.
Next, consider which type of red light therapy device is right for you. Helmets and caps from CurrentBody Skin and HigherDOSE are especially popular with our professionals because they fit snugly around the head and provide more direct coverage of the entire body. You simply put them on, turn on the device, and wait for the treatment cycle to complete before using it.
There are some half-moon-shaped devices on the market, such as the Hairmax LaserBand 82, that look like very wide headbands. Because red light therapy bands do not cover the entire head, they are best suited for people who need to treat specific areas of the head, such as the hairline or the middle of the head.
Some tools, like the Laduora, look like combs, but King notes that using them requires more motivation since you have to actively move the tool across your scalp and hair strands.
No one has endless time to wear a red light therapy helmet or brush their hair to enjoy the benefits of these trendy devices. All of these award-winning products are fast and effective, with treatment times ranging from 90 seconds to 10 minutes.
No matter which device you order, it will likely take at least a few months before you see results. Because of the biology of the hair growth cycle, it’s generally recommended to wait six months to assess the effectiveness of any hair growth treatment, including red light therapy, says Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with the American Academy of Dermatology (FAAD).
As a curious beauty editor, I’m obsessed with finding out what the pros actually use, so I couldn’t resist asking them for their trusty recommendations. Since I’m always skeptical, I also tried a few products from popular brands to see if they lived up to their reputation and were worth the purchase. Spoiler alert: these options are legit, and they’ve all received positive reviews from me or our experts.
I spent several weeks testing different devices at home, so I can’t fully comment on their long-term effects on hair growth. However, I did evaluate them on other parameters, such as comfort, treatment time, ease of use, and overall value. I also favored brands I was familiar with and had enjoyed using in the past, such as HigherDOSE and CurrentBody Skin.
Next, I looked at their prices and eliminated any products from Amazon White Label brands that were too cheap, since they generally weren’t well-researched enough to meet my needs. I also eliminated items that cost about the same as rent, because if I’m not willing to spend $2,500 on a red light therapy cap, I’m not going to expect anyone else to spend that much. But hey, if you have the cash, Spann recommends the Capillus hat. Here are four of the best red light hair therapy devices, including a helmet, headband, brush, and cap. These hair growth products start at under $260, so you can invest in a self-care product without breaking your 2025 budget.
After consulting with experts and testing red light therapy devices, I have come to the conclusion that the CurrentBody Skin helmet is the most impressive device on this list. It deserves to be at the top of the list because both Phinney and I are fans of it. Compared to other similar helmets that take at least 25 minutes to complete the treatment, it is easy to use and provides quick results. The CurrentBody Skin treatment time is only 10 minutes, making it easy and convenient to use in our busy lives. Plus, the company has also won the Women’s Health Beauty Award 2023, which is a testament to its strength.
I’m a big fan of the CurrentBody Skin LED Mask, so naturally I was eager to try out the brand’s hair growth helmet. After measuring my head, I chose the right size (small and medium available) and waited for the device to arrive. Once unboxed, I couldn’t wait to charge the device via the USB-C port and put on the helmet. (It flashes once when fully charged.) I love the design of this helmet, and I like that it’s not too heavy. Plus, the CurrentBody fits comfortably on my head and covers my entire scalp, allowing me to enjoy the most effective treatment at home.
I use this red light therapy device five times a week, but the manufacturer claims it takes 12 weeks to see noticeable results. Due to the short trial period, I cannot comment on the immediate practical effects of the CurrentBody Skin device. However, given my positive experience with the CurrentBody Skin Red LED Mask and Dr. Phinney’s recommendation, I was thrilled that this device helped my hair grow and become thicker.
I found the CurrentBody Skin headset easy to use and comfortable to wear. The relatively lightweight design with the earphone-like cushioning padding made each 10-minute treatment so enjoyable that I used it exactly as recommended. Another detail that backed this up was the best advice we ever received: the headset completely covers my scalp, and I don’t have to hold the handle of a comb or anything else or move the headband around on different parts of my head.
“It has the right wavelength, enough power, and a small hood that separates the hair, allowing more light to reach the scalp. It also has the added bonus of being Bluetooth-enabled, so I usually do the treatment while I’m working out on the Peloton,” says Finney.
Weighing in at just 7 ounces and shaped like a compact brush, the LaDuora uniquely combines red light therapy, microcurrent, scalp massage, and heat therapy for an unrivaled at-home self-care experience. It’s great for people who don’t have the resources to do their own self-care, as each session only takes five minutes, and even busy therapists like Finney would consider it a better choice, as the LaDuora combines multiple therapies into one.
According to Finney, proper scalp care can reduce oxidative stress and associated hair loss, and using this product can help maintain a healthy scalp. He calls LaDuora a unique red light therapy device because it combines light therapy with scalp massage, heat, and microcurrent therapy to directly reduce inflammation.
The DUO is surprisingly easy to use. Each kit contains two pink and two blue round capsules filled with nourishing ingredients. The capsule simply slides into the center of the device. Once I hear a click indicating that the capsule is locked in place, I remove the six protective caps from the bristles to allow the serum to be released from the bottom of the capsule. Finally, to turn the device on, I simply press the button on the front.
I like that the device can be used on either dry or damp hair, but I prefer to brush dry hair because I find that dehydrated hair absorbs the built-in serum more easily. Each device comes with two capsules called Scalp & Hair Serums: Balance is a pink liquid with rose, argan, raspberry seed, and castor oils; Boost is a turquoise liquid containing a blend of vitamin B-3 (sometimes called niacinamide), caffeine, peptides, blue tansy, and green tea leaf extracts. (You can purchase refills separately.)
I was also worried that the 108 degree Fahrenheit temperature of the device would be unbearable, but I found the heat to be quite relaxing. I also like the scalp massage feature because I can feel my mild tension headaches starting to ease, so I use this device when I’m feeling tired or when my period is approaching. If I had a more severe headache, this tool probably wouldn’t be as helpful, but for mild tension headaches, it helps me feel more relaxed.
Spann likes the Capillus laser cap, but even the brand’s basic model costs more than $700, so I wanted to consider other options. One example is the HigherDOSE Light Therapy Cap in red, which is $151 cheaper than the Capillus.
Aside from the attractive price, the best part about wearing this light therapy cap is that no one will know you’re actually treating your hair loss with the device! It looks like a regular black baseball cap, but it has a thin, removable lining covered in red LED lights. (I could wear this cap without the LED lights, but honestly, I’d rather just wear a regular baseball cap so I don’t have to worry about putting too much wear and tear on my HigherDOSE.) When it’s on, the red light isn’t visible to others, and the cap doesn’t get hot. At first, I wasn’t sure how to turn on the device, since it’s cordless. However, I quickly realized that the included black attachment magnetically attaches to the back of the cap and allows for a quick 10-minute treatment. When the treatment is over, a button beeps, and I can move on with my day.
Another device that Finney loves is the Hairmax Laserband 82 Comfort Flex. The product is FDA-cleared and its effectiveness is backed by seven clinical studies. But what Finney loves most about this hair growth tool is that it has tiny teeth that help the light reach the scalp, giving you noticeable results.
This voluminous headband can cover a fair amount of hair at once. Start at the hairline, wait 30 seconds, and the device will vibrate to remind you to move to the center of your head. After another 30 seconds, you can slide the headband back for the third and final treatment. While having to move the headband back and forth several times can be a bit annoying, the total time is only 90 seconds, so it’s more of a champagne problem than a functional one. Finney finds it a bit cumbersome due to the manual controls, but he still thinks it’s a great device.
Need more proof that Hairmax is a solid choice? Carol Winig, a 70-year-old retired nurse who is struggling with hair loss due to the coronavirus pandemic, recently raved about the affordable Hairmax headband. “The device is relatively lightweight, comfortable on my head, and not too bulky. I’ve traveled with it a lot and never had any issues. The battery life is also surprisingly long — I can usually use it for about three months without having to charge it,” she says of the Laserband 41.
While I haven’t had the opportunity to test any Hairmax products, Finney’s positive experience with the more expensive Laserband 82 model, coupled with Wining’s rave reviews of similar equipment, gave me the confidence to include the Hairmax 82 in this story.
It really depends on why you’re losing your hair and when it started. Dr. Spann suggests that people with androgenetic alopecia, hormonal alopecia, stress-related alopecia, vitamin deficiency, alopecia areata, or traction alopecia may benefit from red light therapy.
“The ideal candidate is someone who is starting to lose or thin their hair,” board-certified dermatologist Karin Grossman, MD, recently told us. So if you have a bald, shiny scalp and your hair loss started 15 years ago, red light therapy is unlikely to help your hair growth process.
Unfortunately, adds Dr. Spann, patients with cicatricial alopecia (hair loss that causes scarring of the hair follicles) do not respond to red light therapy, so it’s best to avoid this treatment. (Psst: If this is the case for you, don’t worry. We have plenty of other hair health guides you can check out, like foods that promote hair growth , how to prevent further hair loss , and supplements that promote hair growth.)
The good news: Red light therapy is FDA-cleared, Spann says. She explains that light therapy is safe and has no side effects when used correctly, but it does come with its own caveats. None of these red light therapy devices require safety glasses, since they fit on top of your head. But if you want to try a different hair treatment or order any of our expert-reviewed LED masks (which come with safety glasses), it’s best to wear safety glasses.
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Nicole Saunders is the Beauty Editor at Women’s Health with over eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She excels at breaking down complex topics like red light therapy and LED hair growth masks into easy-to-follow guides. Saunders prides herself on having done extensive research and testing on select beauty products like the shampoo and body wash for dry skin featured on our website. She previously served as the Beauty Editor at Best Products magazine, testing thousands of new products for her quarterly column and Best New Beauty Awards series. She also founded the beauty and health news desk for NBC News and has written for CNN, Cosmopolitan, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, and Harper’s BAZAAR. You can follow her on Instagram to keep up with her product testing activities.
Brian Underwood is the Chief Beauty Officer at Women’s Health, overseeing the brand’s content strategy across all platforms, including digital, print, and social. Underwood previously served as the Chief Beauty and Wellness Officer at Oprah Daily and O, The Oprah Magazine. As the head of beauty content at Hearst’s Oprah Brand, Underwood commissioned stories that won a Skin Cancer Foundation Media Award and a Fragrance Editorial Excellence Award (his second). He was the beauty director of Dr. Oz’s Good Living magazine, and has held editorial positions at Fitness, Organic Style, Good Housekeeping, Life & Style Weekly, and Woman’s Day, and has written for Self, Shape, Seventeen, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, and more. Underwood served on the Skin Cancer Foundation Celebration Committee and was the director of partnerships for the Trans Beauty Clinic, a New York City-based charity that provides beauty services and workshops for the city’s transgender community.